One Wing

Here's a quick track by track response commentary followed by some closing thoughts on this newest release from The Chariot:1. Very instrumental, by that I notice the music a lot in this song; the song almost directs me to. Usually, I consider The Chariot "experience music," and by that I mean I don't usually pick out one reason why I like them but just the whole thing together: Josh's crazy scream, smart Godward vocals, insane chaotic rhythms. This song is like that but the music in particular stands out. Hear the guitar riff and you'll understand.2. Odd vocal distortion at the beginning. Cool, melodic vocals near the end.3. Special treat for fans of The Fiance: "They Faced Each Other" sung in a way that gently yet deeply pours out the heart and soul of its words.4. Music drops out and almost goes into a wild west-ish solo, before the whole band joins in the fun. Sounds like Johnny Cash did a song for an old Clint Eastwood cowboy movie. When after a minute or so of this, Josh comes in with the vocals, the genius and creativity of The Chariot is shown once again. The juxtaposing of western music and scream is beautiful.5. Again everything drops for a slight guitar riff. Closing lyrics : "They lost their voice in the choir." Chilling and insightful.6. Here's the song you will find in a One Wing video on you tube. Only a certain kind of person can listen to a song like this. It grips the heart and demands you listen, but the words almost hurt. Josh pleads and if you listen to the song, you can't help but hear him. This song is another reason why The Chariot are not "scene" in any sense and yet they lead hardcore music forward.7. Kind of techno-spacey in the guitar, though not at all. When those otherworldly backup (female?) vocals come in, you'll wonder "wait, this is The Chariot? Yep, who else could it be."8. Again, this one opens more like a song-song, like a regular band song not hardcore band song (which is genius giving its context). At track 8 in the line up, I'm still blown away by how song-like the progression and feel of some of these tracks are. This really is the next level Chariot quality. About at the 2 minute mark, everything drops out and only a piano and drums play to Josh's distorted and dropped out vocals. Another amazing moment. Of course, they hit you before the song is over and I wouldn't have it any other way. It seems like a lot of the classic Chariot moments where they blow your mind with ear-bleeding intensity have been replaced with moments of 'calm before the storm' elements, which equally mess with your mind because...this is The Chariot after all.9. Good lyrics here. Josh really stands out on this track. Very cool outro.10. Great album closer. Sounds epic from the get go and you know it's going to be a great song. Lyrics are dropped back a little bit. Listen to the words here. I know I've talked mostly about the music, but Scogin is a profound lyricist in today's music: he has a message, The Chariot has a message, and its most needed and worth listening too. I've often wondered at their shows, if the audience gets that or if they're just there to rock out (and with the reappearance of lyrics from a previous album...see song 3...I wonder if the band maybe feels the same way). Of course, you can do both with The Chariot: rock out and be enriched spiritually with their lyrical food for thought. It's sad though if you only take one and not the other. Back to the song, there is clearly a message, and with a little help from Charlie Chaplin's performance in the Great Dictator, you won't miss it.All in all, good album. I've gone through it and definitely will be able to get into some of these songs. I really view the album as a tight collection of all that's good about The Chariot. They've taken a little element from each of their albums and refined it into this latest one before giving it its own spin. I hear riff elements from Wars, there's the aforementioned Fiance nods including a return to a story-style track list, the exploring of mixing musical sounds best captured in Long Live is here...hard to find something especially reminiscent of their first record: maybe the completely live recording aspect (from the you tube video it looks like track 6 was recorded live in studio without all the fancy mixing stuff of today's music, which is how they did their first album).But yea, I suppose that's the way good bands are after a while. They take the good, keep making it better, and yet keep it fresh without changing the overall vibe. One can't deny there is an almost softer sound here, which seems ridiculous to say but I think there is. This is classic The Chariot no doubt. But One Wing will also have its own place in The Chariot library.

The Chariot have outdone themselves again.Previous releases, with the exception of the extremely raw, un-overdubbed release "Long Live", only hinted at the chaos of the showmanship this band produces on stage. One Wing is a mostly breathless 10-song appeal for the often-stale metalcore scene to take in some fresh air. Old fans know what they're listening for: Nods to older efforts; the unforgiving ear-shattering wailing and poetically ambiguous lyrics abound. Unlike "Long Live", however, "One Wing" isn't as obnoxious. At once technical and reserved, however raw, the band consistently stretch their musical muscle, determined to bring their energy to the bleeding ears of metalcore fans everywhere.The Chariot have released their most coherent and solid album yet, the guitars punching and bruising the ears with gratuitous distortion and noise, the drums refusing to stumble into the monotone breakdown patterns to which many other "familiar-sounding" bands resort to get the musical blood pumping. No, The Chariot make their own rules, hellbent on defying metalcore conventions, the anguish in deafening piano sequences, random references to their hometown Atlanta, Josh Scogin's vocal patterns speeding across the limits of vocal coherence to the normal ear.This isn't an album for listeners who want a breakdown, who want to raise their fists and slow down to half time and shout an ambiguous anthem for a minute per song. This is an album for those who have lost faith in bands which produce clean, safe, shiny metal albums, and can't measure up to their produced perfection on the front stage. This is for listeners who want to hear something new, unconventional, quirky, a different song for each track. "One Wing" succeeds where many albums fall short: bringing the energy from a live show and compacting and compressing it to the form of a new album. It is an honest effort, one that promises nothing more than what you hear, yet surprises at every turn in form of creativity, and a shameless penchant for turning metal on its well-worn, graying, wrinkling head and giving you something new. Highly recommended.

If you are familiar with The Chariot, you already know what you are getting. This is an excellent album that incorporates some odd elements into The Chariot's loud arsenal. If you would have told me that this band would have thrown in a Bonanza-esque section into a song, I would have called you a liar....except you would still be correct. That song, oddly enough, is one of my favorites. They also end the album with a Charlie Chaplin speech with the band's music accompanying. The last track is most certainly a highlight. Great album. I am glad I bought it.

CH CH CHARIOT! They're coming for you. This is the kind of CD you put on and turn your stereo to full volume. You ignore the pain in your ears from the volume after the first song, because you realize you have to listen to it at this volume to appreciate the pure musical insanity that The Chariot offers.Why are you still reading? Buy the CD, blast it on the best speakers you've got, and be happy!

If you already love this band, you'll love this album.If you don't love this band, this is a great place to start. They are so unique and raw in their recording style. Scogin is a lyrical master as well. There's really nothing to compare this style too. The Chariot is The Chariot and that's the only way to describe it.Ps, if you haven't seen them live, do yourself a favor and go! Just make sure you keep your head on a swivel... you never know what (or who) is gonna come flying off the stage.